Before we start on what genetic engineered food will do to humans and animals, we need to understand why we are discussing a concept that most people would not dare to think. A couple of days back there was a news that created wide spread havoc among people. No one could even imagine that Genetic Engineered Food could disrupt the immune system as noticed on certain lab animals ,after GM food was tested on them. From this very incident, human population concluded to the very idea that GM crops aren't good for life. If you think this inference to be true then winding through time will give you an idea of what innovations and ideas lead to.
Science has a very important part to play in our life's. It is important to abide by science and innovations, though equally important to fear novel ideas. I agree, that we are very skeptical about what happens to us, especially when we have little knowledge about the something. For centuries we have been conditioned to this state of mind. Starting from the earth being round, electricity from lightning, and even our very own gravity, it took us some time to accept the science behind all these. But the curious cat in us kept us at the verge of discoveries and innovations. This is why, when nature ran away from fire we tried to tame it. Today we have come a long way from what we were. Right from building Rome, to 3D movie pills, we have seen it all and more is yet to come. This urge in us helped us to find the secrets of life.
When ideas are planned, worked and found successful, it is true that millions of questions would have to be answered. So was the case with the idea of recombinant DNA. Gene splicing and artificial DNA were concepts and segments, that normal people could not understand. Until 1975, the success of the Asilomar Conference on Recombinant DNA, brought a new wave to human mankind. Though repercussions are still being felt due to the idea being implemented, the betterment to human life was understood and widely accepted.
Unfortunately GM crops have failed to get the same transient response. There are many organisations trying to bring up GM crops into the main stream, but the moment certain organisations think of making profit, the goal is diverted. For example the awareness of cigarettes and health hazards, was done in such a way that the cigarette companies will not be affected. The researches done on youth and old for fagging, were in vain. So before ripping away the concept of genetically engineered crops, we need to know the theories behind them.
THE QUESTION?
Is it safe?
GM products are widely used in medicine, and no such complaints have been made though, even when we consume them directly or even inject them into our body. These crops were introduced in USA much before anywhere else. Many commonly used food items used by them like corn, potato, maize, sugar beets were already GM. It is the duty of US FDA to certify new GM products for their safety. US FDA uses a 'substantial equivalence' principle in evaluating the new products. This was to facilitate rapid approval for genetically modified foods and was proposed by the Food and agricultural organisation(FAO) and World health organisation in early 1990s. This method was adopted because stringent testing of food products would cost millions of dollars and years of testing. Such demands and delays would make genetically modified foods unprofitable for private companies. Thus substantial equivalence could allow products to get to market within months of their development. There are questions regarding this method and even though controversies prevail, it has to be noted that till date there are no significant cases of human safety issues related to consuming GM food reported from USA.
WHAT ABOUT KERALITES?
It is true Kerala is aimed as a testing ground. Till date we do not have our own research programs, important for our farmers, observing precautions and insisting liabilities for the same. We do not have a transgenic gene testing laboratory. So in order to know more about GM crops,we need to conduct a case by case study of experiments and take relevant decisions. Since there are not many experiments that have been successful, it would not be difficult to go for a close examination. It is true that genes placed in one genome might not have an effect on it directly, but that might not be the case for a GM-ed species.Though our knowledge in genetics is good, we still do not have enough to warrant on cursory engineering. If more genetic engineering is involved then we could be mounting on a never-ending carousel of research and dictators who would instill an unnecessary concern within us. With fear mongering over human health, the issue will be diverted, may be for good or even for bad.
There are genuine apprehensions in introducing GM crops into the ecosystem. Mainly because there might be a general nature in genes, to act uncontrollable and self propagating, into once they are inserted into germ cells, and widely dispersed.
These GM seeds now developed do not have terminator genes by law and might show chances of genetic intermixing with other strains and then into general ecosystem. The wipe out of pests and insects using this technique is not specific, as they themselves are undergoing favourable mutation.
UNANSWERED?
Though this is a prominent fact, the argument to the whole process presented as an unmitigated disaster to human life is inadequate. More over the ethical values and religious beliefs cannot be ruled out. Also the question of replicating the genetic traits transferred over generations stays unanswered.
“In India, its more of religious thoughts than ethical views. It is true the naturality of any living organism will be lost but then according to nature any organism that is weak needs to be killed but we still do all that we know, keep it alive. Still keeping the consequences in mind. The splicing of gene can hinder side effects, but only under close inspection and successful result from non profit organisations and societal monitoring should they be released to the public. The argument about causing imbalance to the ecosystem like killing of lower organisms like earthworms and honey bees is not valid, because we use strong fertilizers and pesticides that kill these organisms in one way or the other. Our aim should never be based on insect resistant or herbicide resistant crops, but on drought resistant and higher productivity crops. We need to find what we need.”, says RVG Menon, Activists, Advisor and Environmentalist.
The fear to use GM crops can be can also contradicted with integrated nutrient management practises and integrated pest management practises in which the farmer is promised for an adequate availability of quality fertilizers through periodical demand assessment and timely supply of seeds. India being the third largest in production and consumption after China and USA, might find the need to step up GM crops for the country and its people, still keeping in mind that these crops might marr the balance of ecosystem. Bringing in Bt crops was detrimental as myriad organisms both living on land and water were harmed.
BENEFIT OF DOUBT!
Concluding all the facts, it is very clear that innovations and discoveries are a necessary evil. Without them we would not have made anti-biotic tablets, we would not have made fertilizers and nutrients for cultivation. Though a moratorium is called on for GM crops it is our duty and responsibility to study more and find the possibility for a better future. Though this might seem as a mission impossible, it surely has a high potential for happy ending.
Science has a very important part to play in our life's. It is important to abide by science and innovations, though equally important to fear novel ideas. I agree, that we are very skeptical about what happens to us, especially when we have little knowledge about the something. For centuries we have been conditioned to this state of mind. Starting from the earth being round, electricity from lightning, and even our very own gravity, it took us some time to accept the science behind all these. But the curious cat in us kept us at the verge of discoveries and innovations. This is why, when nature ran away from fire we tried to tame it. Today we have come a long way from what we were. Right from building Rome, to 3D movie pills, we have seen it all and more is yet to come. This urge in us helped us to find the secrets of life.
When ideas are planned, worked and found successful, it is true that millions of questions would have to be answered. So was the case with the idea of recombinant DNA. Gene splicing and artificial DNA were concepts and segments, that normal people could not understand. Until 1975, the success of the Asilomar Conference on Recombinant DNA, brought a new wave to human mankind. Though repercussions are still being felt due to the idea being implemented, the betterment to human life was understood and widely accepted.
Unfortunately GM crops have failed to get the same transient response. There are many organisations trying to bring up GM crops into the main stream, but the moment certain organisations think of making profit, the goal is diverted. For example the awareness of cigarettes and health hazards, was done in such a way that the cigarette companies will not be affected. The researches done on youth and old for fagging, were in vain. So before ripping away the concept of genetically engineered crops, we need to know the theories behind them.
THE QUESTION?
Is it safe?
GM products are widely used in medicine, and no such complaints have been made though, even when we consume them directly or even inject them into our body. These crops were introduced in USA much before anywhere else. Many commonly used food items used by them like corn, potato, maize, sugar beets were already GM. It is the duty of US FDA to certify new GM products for their safety. US FDA uses a 'substantial equivalence' principle in evaluating the new products. This was to facilitate rapid approval for genetically modified foods and was proposed by the Food and agricultural organisation(FAO) and World health organisation in early 1990s. This method was adopted because stringent testing of food products would cost millions of dollars and years of testing. Such demands and delays would make genetically modified foods unprofitable for private companies. Thus substantial equivalence could allow products to get to market within months of their development. There are questions regarding this method and even though controversies prevail, it has to be noted that till date there are no significant cases of human safety issues related to consuming GM food reported from USA.
WHAT ABOUT KERALITES?
It is true Kerala is aimed as a testing ground. Till date we do not have our own research programs, important for our farmers, observing precautions and insisting liabilities for the same. We do not have a transgenic gene testing laboratory. So in order to know more about GM crops,we need to conduct a case by case study of experiments and take relevant decisions. Since there are not many experiments that have been successful, it would not be difficult to go for a close examination. It is true that genes placed in one genome might not have an effect on it directly, but that might not be the case for a GM-ed species.Though our knowledge in genetics is good, we still do not have enough to warrant on cursory engineering. If more genetic engineering is involved then we could be mounting on a never-ending carousel of research and dictators who would instill an unnecessary concern within us. With fear mongering over human health, the issue will be diverted, may be for good or even for bad.
There are genuine apprehensions in introducing GM crops into the ecosystem. Mainly because there might be a general nature in genes, to act uncontrollable and self propagating, into once they are inserted into germ cells, and widely dispersed.
These GM seeds now developed do not have terminator genes by law and might show chances of genetic intermixing with other strains and then into general ecosystem. The wipe out of pests and insects using this technique is not specific, as they themselves are undergoing favourable mutation.
UNANSWERED?
Though this is a prominent fact, the argument to the whole process presented as an unmitigated disaster to human life is inadequate. More over the ethical values and religious beliefs cannot be ruled out. Also the question of replicating the genetic traits transferred over generations stays unanswered.
“In India, its more of religious thoughts than ethical views. It is true the naturality of any living organism will be lost but then according to nature any organism that is weak needs to be killed but we still do all that we know, keep it alive. Still keeping the consequences in mind. The splicing of gene can hinder side effects, but only under close inspection and successful result from non profit organisations and societal monitoring should they be released to the public. The argument about causing imbalance to the ecosystem like killing of lower organisms like earthworms and honey bees is not valid, because we use strong fertilizers and pesticides that kill these organisms in one way or the other. Our aim should never be based on insect resistant or herbicide resistant crops, but on drought resistant and higher productivity crops. We need to find what we need.”, says RVG Menon, Activists, Advisor and Environmentalist.
The fear to use GM crops can be can also contradicted with integrated nutrient management practises and integrated pest management practises in which the farmer is promised for an adequate availability of quality fertilizers through periodical demand assessment and timely supply of seeds. India being the third largest in production and consumption after China and USA, might find the need to step up GM crops for the country and its people, still keeping in mind that these crops might marr the balance of ecosystem. Bringing in Bt crops was detrimental as myriad organisms both living on land and water were harmed.
BENEFIT OF DOUBT!
Concluding all the facts, it is very clear that innovations and discoveries are a necessary evil. Without them we would not have made anti-biotic tablets, we would not have made fertilizers and nutrients for cultivation. Though a moratorium is called on for GM crops it is our duty and responsibility to study more and find the possibility for a better future. Though this might seem as a mission impossible, it surely has a high potential for happy ending.
